Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after tearing a ligament in his left ankle during the 2-1 Group E win over Côte d'Ivoire, according to a Reuters report carried by the Guardian.
Schlotterbeck was hurt early in the match and was replaced at half-time by Antonio Rüdiger. A scan later confirmed the ligament tear, ending the Borussia Dortmund centre-back's tournament just as Germany moved through another pressure point in the group stage.
Germany Lose A Starting Centre-Back
The injury is a direct hit to Julian Nagelsmann's defensive plan. Schlotterbeck, 26, had been part of Germany's starting back line, and the report said he will remain with the squad in the United States for now rather than immediately leaving camp.
Nagelsmann cannot call up a replacement at this stage of the tournament. That leaves Germany to reshuffle from the players already in camp, with Rüdiger the immediate in-game answer after coming on for the second half against Côte d'Ivoire.
The manager's public reaction made clear this was not a minor rotation issue. Reuters quoted Nagelsmann saying Schlotterbeck would be missed for his defending and build-up play, while adding that the player was already looking ahead after teammates tried to lift his mood.
Rüdiger Moves Back Into Focus
Germany still won the match 2-1, but the timing is awkward. Tournament depth is tested less by ideal lineups than by the first injury that forces a manager to redraw the board, and this one lands in central defence.
Rüdiger gives Germany an experienced option, yet the loss changes the balance of a back line that had Schlotterbeck's left-footed distribution available from the start. That matters in knockout football, where one fewer natural passing angle can become a tactical problem rather than just a selection note.
The verified facts are enough without stretching them. Germany have lost Schlotterbeck for the World Cup, cannot add an outside replacement, and must carry the consequence of a win that cost them a starting defender.